Movable Holder for Medical Instruments and Associated Methods

ABSTRACT

A movable instrument holding apparatus and method of retaining a medical instrument with a movable instrument holding apparatus are disclosed. The movable instrument holding apparatus includes a housing structure retaining a gripping structure. A rail is connected to the housing structure. A depressible arm is connected to the rail, the depressible arm having a first quantity of ratchet teeth, wherein the first quantity of ratchet teeth is movable with the depressible arm. A track is sized to receive the rail, wherein the track has a second quantity of ratchet teeth, and wherein the first quantity of ratchet teeth are engagable with the second quantity of ratchet teeth when the rail is positioned at least partially within the track.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/714,505, entitled “Movable holder for medical instruments andassociated methods” filed Oct. 16, 2012, the entire disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to instrument holdingdevices and more particularly is related to a movable instrument holdingapparatus and methods of using the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Within the medical industry, there is a need for holding a variety ofmedical instruments for various purposes. A surgeon needs to be able toaccess medical instruments for surgery quickly, a dentist needs to beable to access his or her dental tools, and virtually all medicalinstruments must be placed within a holder during a sterilizationprocess. Conventional holding containers may include a variety of basesholding insertable trays that have specifically-designed areas forholding specific tools. However, with smaller tools, such as smalldental tools, it is frequently inefficient to store them in thesecontainers, since they're prone to being moved around and jostled as thecontainer is moved. This may result in a grouping of smaller tools inone area, which means that the surgeon or medical staff member must siftthrough the grouping to locate a specific tool.

Conventionally, medical instruments are often held in containers ortrays with holes and grommets. The grommets may be positioned within thehole and provide a secure interface between the medical instrument andthe hole within the container or tray. Often, the grommets are sized tomatch a certain shaft size of a medical instrument, and a container ortray may include a variety of different sized grommets, eachspecifically engineered and designed to hold one of a variety of medicalinstruments. These medical instruments have varying shaft sizes and itoften becomes tedious to search for the appropriately sized grommet thatmatches a particular shaft size of the medical instrument. It is notuncommon for a medical tray to have fifty or more grommets, with a dozenor more different sizes. Thus, the time it takes to match a specificmedical instrument to a specifically sized grommet may result ininefficient use of valuable time.

Further, many medical instruments are not suited for sterilization whilebeing held in a grommet, either because they lack the necessary shape tobe retained within the grommet or because they do not become fullysterilized when placed in the grommet since the grommet hinders theability for a sterilant to contact all portions of the medicalinstrument. For instruments of these types, it may be necessary tosupport them with fixtures that retain the instruments with less contactthan conventional grommets. With the multitude of medical instrumentsthat require sterilization, it may be inefficient for a medical workerto find an appropriate fixture that will work with a specificinstrument.

Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to addressthe aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a movable instrumentholding apparatus. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment ofthe apparatus, among others, can be implemented as follows. A housingstructure is retaining a gripping structure. A rail is connected to thehousing structure. A depressible arm is connected to the rail, thedepressible arm having a first quantity of ratchet teeth, wherein thefirst quantity of ratchet teeth is movable with the depressible arm. Atrack is sized to receive the rail, wherein the track has a secondquantity of ratchet teeth, and wherein the first quantity of ratchetteeth are engagable with the second quantity of ratchet teeth when therail is positioned at least partially within the track.

The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a method ofretaining a medical instrument with a movable instrument holder. In thisregard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadlysummarized by the following steps: connecting a track to a medicalinstrument sterilization tray; positioning a rail within a channelformed in the track, wherein the rail is connected to a housingstructure having at least one gripping structure supported therein;controlling engagement of the rail with the track with a depressible armconnected to the rail, wherein a first quantity of ratchet teeth formedon the depressible arm is engagable with a second quantity of ratchetteeth formed on the channel; and retaining the medical instrumentbetween at least two of the gripping structures.

The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a system ofretaining a medical instrument. Briefly described, in architecture, oneembodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows.The system includes a plurality of housing structures, each of theplurality of housing structures retaining at least one grippingstructure. A rail is connected to each of the housing structures. Adepressible arm is connected to each of the rails, each of thedepressible arms having a first quantity of ratchet teeth, wherein thefirst quantity of ratchet teeth is movable with the depressible arm,respectively. A length of track receives each of the rails within achannel formed within the length of track, wherein a second quantity ofratchet teeth is positioned along the channel, and wherein the firstquantities of ratchet teeth are temporarily engaged with the secondquantity of ratchet teeth.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, features, andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view illustration of a movableinstrument holding apparatus, in accordance with a first exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustration of a movableinstrument holding apparatus in a disengaged position, in accordancewith a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustration of the rail, housing structure, andgripping structure of the movable instrument holding apparatus of FIG.1, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustration of the track of the movableinstrument holding apparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with the firstexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view illustration of the track of the movable instrumentholding apparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustration of the movable instrument holdingapparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view illustration of the movableinstrument holding apparatus of FIG. 1 in use with a medical instrument,in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of retaining a medicalinstrument with a movable instrument holder, in accordance with a secondexemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view illustration of a movableinstrument holding apparatus 10, in accordance with a first exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. The movable instrument holdingapparatus 10, which may be referred to as ‘apparatus 10,’ includeshousing structure 30 retaining a gripping structure 20. A rail 40 isconnected with the housing structure 30. A depressible arm 50 isconnected to the rail 40 and has a first quantity of ratchet teeth 52,wherein the first quantity of ratchet teeth 52 is movable with thedepressible arm 50. A track 60 is sized to receive the rail 40, whereinthe track 60 has a second quantity of ratchet teeth 62, and wherein thefirst quantity of ratchet teeth 52 are engagable with the secondquantity of ratchet teeth 62 when the rail 40 is positioned at leastpartially within the track 60.

The apparatus 10 may be used for holding different types of instruments,namely medical instruments used for medical procedures, operations, andsurgeries. For example, the apparatus 10 may be used to hold medicalinstruments in surgical environments before, during and/or after asurgical procedure, or a medical instrument sterilization process.Similarly, the apparatus 10 may be used with dental instruments fordental operations, routine cleanings, or for any other use. Othersettings and uses within the medical field are also envisioned, all ofwhich are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. Theapparatus 10 is well suited for holding medical instruments during asterilization process, where the medical instrument is contacted bysterilant or subjected to sterilizing conditions, such as hightemperatures.

The apparatus 10 may contact and hold a medical instrument with thegripping structure 20. The gripping structure 20 may be formed from aresilient material, such as a silicone material with a high durometer,such that the gripping structure 20 can flex to hold a medicalinstrument successfully. However, the gripping structure 20 may also beformed from any number of other materials. The gripping structure 20 mayhave any shape, size or orientation, such as an arced structure with aplurality of small protrusions 22 which are suited for contact with themedical instrument. The small protrusions 22 may allow the medicalinstrument to be stationary retained, but still allow for sterilant tocontact as much of the medical instrument as possible. The smallprotrusions 22 may be formed on the gripping structure 20 in anyfashion, such as formed on a face of the gripping structure 20 that isshaped to receive the medical instrument. The gripping structure 20 mayinclude a variety of dimensions, sizes, and shapes, including flat,angled, or pronged shapes, or any other shape not specifically mentionsherein.

The gripping structure 20 is retained and supported by the housingstructure 30, which may be formed from a hardened plastic or metal, oranother material suitable for withstanding the conditions of asterilization environment. The housing structure 30 may receive aportion of the gripping structure 20 therein, such as within a pocket orcavity of the housing structure 30, and secure the gripping structure 20with fasteners 32, or similar structures. For example, the grippingstructure 20 may be secured with fasteners 32 that are at leastpartially positioned within or through a portion of the grippingstructures 20. In other examples, the gripping structure 20 may befrictionally, adhesively, or otherwise held on the housing structure 30.The gripping structure 20 may be removable or permanent within thehousing structure 30, depending on the intended use of the apparatus 10.Furthermore, any number of independent or connected gripping structures20 may be supported by a single housing structure 30.

The rail is formed with or attached to the housing structure 30. Therail 40 may commonly be integrally molded or machined with the housingstructure 30 such that the two structures are substantially unitary.However, the rail 40 may also be formed separately from the housingstructure 30 and later connected to it. The rail 40 may be positionedbelow the housing structure 30, such that the housing structure 30 ispositioned between the rail 40 and the gripping structure 20. In thisconfiguration, the rail 40 may interface with the track 60, therebysupporting the housing structure 30 and the gripping structure 20 abovethe track 60.

The rail 40 may have a variety of shapes, including an inverted T shape,as is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The shape of the rail 40 may bechosen to be compatible with the track 60, such that the two structuresfunction together. The rail 40 may support the housing structure 30 andthe gripping structure 20 when the rail 40 is positioned within thetrack 60, such that the gripping structure 20 can be used in anylocation along the track 60 that is needed. The track 60 may be shapedto receive the rail 40, as is best shown in FIG. 6. As is discussedfurther relative to FIGS. 4-6, the track 60 may have a base, sidewalls,and lips that allow for the rail 40 to be positioned therein but stillbe capable of supporting the housing structure 30 and the grippingstructure 20. The track 60 may be any length and have other features,such as junctions, turns, angles, or terminating ends. The track 60 mayconnect to a medical sterilization tray (FIG. 7) with any number offasteners or retaining devices, many of which are well-known in the art.

The depressible arm 50, which is connected to the rail 40, and the firstquantity of ratchet teeth 52, which are formed on the depressible arm 50are components of the ratchet system which controls movement of the rail40 relative the track 60. The ratchet system also includes the secondquantity of ratchet teeth 62 formed on the track 60. Together, thedepressible arm 50 and the first and second quantity of ratchet teeth52, 62 allow for the apparatus 10 to be moved along the track 60 andretained in a stationary position along the track 60. The depressiblearm 50 may be integrally formed with the rail 40 and extend away fromthe rail 40, as is shown in FIG. 1. The first quantity of ratchet teeth52 may be positioned on the depressible arm 50 along the side of thedepressible arm 50 that is proximate to the location of the secondquantity of ratchet teeth 62. As is shown in FIG. 1, the second quantityof ratchet teeth 62 are positioned on the upper edge of the track 60 andthe first quantity of ratchet teeth 52 are positioned on the top side ofthe depressible arm 50.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustration of a movableinstrument holding apparatus 10 in a disengaged position, in accordancewith a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Thedepressible arm 50 is biasable, such that the depressible arm 50 may bemoved when a force is applied thereto. In use, the depressible arm 50may have a natural position (first position) with the first quantity ofratchet teeth 52 engaging with the second quantity of ratchet teeth 62when no force is applied to the depressible arm 50, as is shown inFIG. 1. When the depressible arm 50 is in the first position, at least aportion of it, such as a terminating end of the depressible arm 50, maybe located above a top surface of the track 60. When a force is appliedto the depressible arm 50, the depressible arm 50 may be moved away fromthe second quantity of ratchet teeth 62 to a second position, therebydisengaging the first quantity of ratchet teeth 52 from the secondquantity of ratchet teeth 62, as is shown in FIG. 2. When the first andsecond quantity of ratchet teeth 52, 62 are in the disengaged position,the rail 40 may be movable along the length of the track 60.Accordingly, the rail 40 may be moved along any point of the track 60when the first and second quantities of ratchet teeth 52, 62 aredisengaged, and be retained in a stationary position when the first andsecond quantities of ratchet teeth 52, 62 are engaged.

It is noted that the ratchet system may be controlled, at least in part,based on the shape of the first and second quantities of ratchet teeth52, 62. For example, depending on the shape of the first and secondquantities of ratchet teeth 52, 62, the rail 40 may be movable in onlyone direction within the track 60, or in two directions within the track60. When one or both of the first and second quantities of ratchet teeth52, 62 are shaped with a vertical tooth side, the rail 40 may be movablein one direction along the track 60, whereas when at least one of thefirst and second quantities of ratchet teeth 52, 62 have two angularteeth sides, the rail 40 may be movable in two directions along thetrack 60. The use of different shaped ratchet teeth within ratchetsystems to allow for movement using the ratchet system is well-known inthe art and does not warrant discussion herein.

In use, the apparatus 10 may allow for convenient support of a medicalinstrument before, after, and during a sterilization process. Since anyquantity of track 60 may be used in any position(s) on the sterilizationtray, the gripping structures 20 retained by the housing structure 30and rail 40 may be positioned in a variety of locations along thesterilization tray. This ability for flexibility in locating thegripping structures 20 means that the gripping structures 20 can bequickly located or relocated to support a specific medical instrument.Thus, a medical technician simply needs to depress the depressible arm50 to allow the rail 40 to move within the track 60 to the desiredposition for the gripping structure 20 to be moved to its desiredholding position. Any number of gripping structures 20 may be used withany number of housing structures 30 and rails 40, thereby providing amodular system for universally accommodating a large variety of medicalinstruments.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustration of the rail 40, housing structure30, and gripping structure 20 of the movable instrument holdingapparatus 10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. The rail 40 may be formed as aninverted T-shape, generally formed from a lower portion 42 that is widerthan an upper portion 44. The depressible arm 50 (FIGS. 1-2) may beconnected to the lower portion 42 of the rail 40. While the housingstructure 30 is shown in FIG. 3 as being wider than the upper portion 44of the rail 40, it is noted that the housing structure 30 may have anydimension, including wider or thinner than any part of the rail 40.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustration of the track 60 of the movableinstrument holding apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with the firstexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a top viewillustration of the track 60 of the movable instrument holding apparatus10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure. Relative to FIGS. 4-5, the track 60 may be formedfrom a base 64 having a plurality of walls 66 extending therefrom. Atthe distal ends of the plurality of walls 66 may be a lip 68, integrallyconnected with the wall 66. A channel 70 may be formed interior of thebase 64, the walls 66, and the lips 68. The channel 70 is accessiblefrom an open slot 72, which is located at a top of the channel 70proximate to or between the lips 68 of each of the plurality of walls66. The channel 70 may be sized to receive the lower portion 42 (FIG. 3)of the rail (FIG. 3). As can be seen in FIG. 4, the second quantity ofratchet teeth 62 may be positioned on an interior side of at least aportion of the lips 68, i.e., facing towards the channel 70, of each ofthe plurality of walls 66.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustration of the movable instrument holdingapparatus 10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with the first exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. As can be seen, the lower portion42 of the rail 40 is sized to fit within the channel 70 of the track 60with appropriate tolerances to allow the rail 40 to move within thetrack 60 along the length of the track 60. The lips 68 of the track 60may extend towards the upper portion 44 of the rail 40, therebypreventing the rail 40 from being removed from the track 60, with theexception of removing the rail 40 from the track 60 by moving it out anopen end of the track 60 (not shown). Accordingly, the upper portion 44of the rail 40 may be positioned within the open slot 72 of the channel70. A width of the open slot 72 may be greater than a width of the upperportion 44 of the rail 40 positioned within the open slot 72 of thechannel 70 and less than a width of the lower portion 42 of the rail 40.

The second quantity of ratchet teeth 62 may be positioned on the lip 68of the track 60, as is shown, or on another location along the track 60.For example, the second quantity of ratchet teeth 62 may be positionedalong a sidewall 66 of the track 60 or a base 64 of the track 60, solong as the rail 40 is movable within the track 60 and the firstquantity of ratchet teeth 52 can engage with the second quantity ofratchet teeth 62. Many variations on the positioning of the ratchetsystem are available, all of which are considered within the scope ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view illustration of the movableinstrument holding apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 in use with a medicalinstrument 12, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The apparatus 10 of FIG. 3 is substantially similarto the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 and depicts two gripping structures 20being used to retain a medical instrument 12, which may be understood asa system of retaining a medical instrument. The gripping structures 20,which are supported by the housing structures 30 and rails 40,respectively, may be positioned along any length of the track 60. Forexample, the medical instrument 12 may be positioned between twogripping structures 20 that are moved proximate to one another, suchthat the protrusions 22 on the gripping structures 20 contact the sidesof the medical instrument 12 and frictionally contact and retain it in astationary position. Shown in broken lines, the first and secondquantities of ratchet teeth 52, 62 may be engaged to retain the grippingstructures 20 in the stationary position. When the gripping structures20 require relocating, the depressible arms 50 may be biased, therebyreleasing the first and second quantities of ratchet teeth 52, 62.

Also shown in FIG. 7 is a fastener 64 which may be used to retain thetrack 60 to the sterilization tray 14. For example, the sterilizationtray 14 may include holes that the fasteners 64 may be positionedthrough. The fasteners 64 may include biasable ends which compressinwards when they're being forced through the holes in the sterilizationtray 14, and subsequently expand outwards when they are located outsideof the holes. In this fashion, the fasteners 64 may be removablypositioned to readjust and relocate the track 60, yet retain the track60 in a stationary position on the sterilization tray 14 when they'reengaged with the sterilization tray 14.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 100 illustrating a method of retaining a medicalinstrument with a movable instrument holder, in accordance with a secondexemplary embodiment of the disclosure. It should be noted that anyprocess descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood asrepresenting modules, segments, portions of code, or steps that includeone or more instructions for implementing specific logical functions inthe process, and alternate implementations are included within the scopeof the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out oforder from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrentlyor in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as wouldbe understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the presentdisclosure.

As is shown by block 102, a track is connected to a medical instrumentsterilization tray. A rail is positioned within a channel formed in thetrack, wherein the rail is connected to a housing structure having atleast one gripping structure supported therein (block 104). Engagementof the rail with the track is controlled with a depressible armconnected to the rail, wherein a first quantity of ratchet teeth formedon the depressible arm is engagable with a second quantity of ratchetteeth formed on the channel (block 106). The medical instrument isretained between at least two of the gripping structures (block 108).

The method may include any number of additional steps, variations ofsteps, functions, or structures, including any that are disclosedrelative to any embodiment of this disclosure. For example, the step ofcontrolling engagement of the rail with the track with the depressiblearm may include positioning the depressible arm in a first position toengage the first quantity of ratchet teeth with the second quantity ofratchet teeth, and positioning the depressible arm in a second positionto disengage the first quantity of ratchet teeth from the secondquantity of ratchet teeth. When the medical instrument is retainedbetween the at least two gripping structures, it may be subjected to asterilization environment or sterilization process, such as anautoclave.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of thepresent disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, aremerely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for aclear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variationsand modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of thedisclosure without departing substantially from the spirit andprinciples of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations areintended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure andthe present disclosure and protected by the following claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A movable instrument holding apparatuscomprising: a housing structure retaining a gripping structure; a railconnected to the housing structure; a depressible arm connected to therail, the depressible arm having a first quantity of ratchet teeth,wherein the first quantity of ratchet teeth is movable with thedepressible arm; and a track sized to receive the rail, wherein thetrack has a second quantity of ratchet teeth, and wherein the firstquantity of ratchet teeth are engagable with the second quantity ofratchet teeth when the rail is positioned at least partially within thetrack.
 2. The movable instrument holding apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a medical instrument sterilization tray, wherein the track isconnected to the medical instrument sterilization tray.
 3. The movableinstrument holding apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one fasteneris engaged between the track and the medical instrument sterilizationtray.
 4. The movable instrument holding apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe rail is integrally formed with the housing structure.
 5. The movableinstrument holding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rail has aninverted T-shape, wherein the rail has a lower portion that is widerthan an upper portion.
 6. The movable instrument holding apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the depressible arm is connected to the lower portionof the rail.
 7. The movable instrument holding apparatus of claim 5,wherein the track further comprises a plurality of walls forming achannel, wherein each of the plurality of walls has a lip, wherein anopen slot is located at a top of the channel proximate to the lips ofeach of the plurality of walls, wherein the lower portion of the rail ismovable within the channel.
 8. The movable instrument holding apparatusof claim 7, wherein the second quantity of ratchet teeth are positionedon an interior side of at least a portion of the lips of each of theplurality of walls.
 9. The movable instrument holding apparatus of claim7, wherein the upper portion of the rail is positioned within the openslot of the channel.
 10. The movable instrument holding apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein a width of the open slot is greater than a width of theupper portion of the rail positioned within the open slot of thechannel, and the width of the open slot is less than a width of thelower portion of the rail.
 11. The movable instrument holding apparatusof claim 1, wherein the depressible arm is movable between at least afirst position and a second position, wherein in the first position, thefirst quantity of ratchet teeth is engaged with the second quantity ofratchet teeth, and in the second position, the first quantity of ratchetteeth is disengaged with the second quantity of ratchet. teeth.
 12. Themovable instrument holding apparatus of claim 11, wherein the housingstructure is stationary relative the track when the depressible arm isin the first position.
 13. The movable instrument holding apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the housing structure is movable along the track whenthe depressible arm is in the second position.
 14. The movableinstrument holding apparatus of claim 11, wherein in the first position,at least a portion of the depressible arm is located above a top surfaceof the track.
 15. The movable instrument holding apparatus of claim 1,wherein the gripping structure further comprises a plurality of smallprotrusions formed on at least one face of the gripping structure.
 16. Asystem of retaining a medical instrument, the system comprising: aplurality of housing structures, each of the plurality of housingstructures retaining at least one gripping structure; a rail connectedto each of the housing structures; a depressible arm connected to eachof the rails, each of the depressible arms having a first quantity ofratchet teeth, wherein the first quantity of ratchet teeth is movablewith the depressible arm, respectively; and a length of track receivingeach of the rails within a channel formed within the length of track,wherein a second quantity of ratchet teeth is positioned along thechannel, and wherein the first quantities of ratchet teeth aretemporarily engaged with the second quantity of ratchet teeth.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, further comprising a medical instrument positionedbetween at least two of the plurality of housing structures andfrictionally contacted by the at least one gripping structure on each ofthe plurality of housing structures.
 18. A method of retaining a medicalinstrument with a movable instrument holder, the method comprising thesteps of connecting a track to a medical instrument sterilization tray;positioning a rail within a channel formed in the track, wherein therail is connected to a housing structure having at least one grippingstructure supported therein; controlling engagement of the rail with thetrack with a depressible arm connected to the rail, wherein a firstquantity of ratchet teeth formed on the depressible arm is engagablewith a second quantity of ratchet teeth formed on the channel; andretaining the medical instrument between at least two of the grippingstructures.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of controllingengagement of the rail with the track with the depressible arm furthercomprises: positioning the depressible arm in a first position to engagethe first quantity of ratchet teeth with the second quantity of ratchetteeth; and positioning the depressible arm in a second position todisengage the first quantity of ratchet teeth from the second quantityof ratchet teeth.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising thestep of subjecting the medical instrument retained between the at leasttwo gripping structures to a sterilization environment.